Master and Commander
Posts: 1006
Location: NE Florida | Subject: Saturday Obit
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=eternal%20patrol%20by%20ussvi
The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.
I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.
Coyote
Courtesy of USSVI Groton:
We recently learned from his wife Gunn that RMCS(SS) Morris Spencer “Spence” Newkirk departed on Eternal Patrol on 04 February 2024 in Honefoss Norway. Spence was a long term resident of Norway.
Spence was born in New York, NY February 19 1933. He grew up in New Jersey on his grandparents´ farm along with younger brother Bill. His parents divorced early, and the mother remarried Marvin Van Vorst («Van») who was in the Navy. After WWII Van was transferred to Hawaii, then later to Japan. Spence spent his teens in these two places.
Spence joined the Navy at age 18 in 1951 and spent several years on surface ships before volunteering for Submarine Duty. His first Submarine was USS SABLEFISH (SS 303) where he Qualified in Submarines in 1954. Other assignments included USS TORO (SS 422), USS PIPER (SS 409), USS GROUPER (AGSS 214), USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571), USS HARDHEAD (SS 365), USS GAR (SS 206) and USS JALLAO (SS 368). He also served on Shore Duty at NATO Headquarters in Oslo Norway in the 1960s and in Naples where he retired in 1979 as an RMCS(SS).
After retirement he moved to Norway. After a short time he was offered the job as bar manager of the Officer´s Club at the same Nato base he was stationed at in the 60´s, and being bored, he accepted. Here he stayed for about 14 years, until the base relocated to Stavanger and he retired for good.
He met Gunn Eidsgaard in the early 80´s, and they were married in 1992. They built their home at a small community about half hour from the HQ where he worked.
He joined USSVI Groton Base in April 1998 as a Life Member and was inducted into the prestigious Holland Club in 2005.
Spence enjoyed traveling around attending various reunions. He was a very colorful person who made friends all over. He would swing his tankard with Russians, Germans and Brits alike at the International reunions that he and Gunn went to. All these reunions gave him great pleasure!
Spence suffered a brain hemorrhage in March 2010. Two years later he suffered a very serious heart condition, which undid almost all the good work he and the physical therapist had done after the stroke. His mind remained sharp, it was strictly the body that suffered. Very gradually he declined until 2022 when he had to go into an assisted living facility, where he passed February 4.
Funeral to be held at Ringerike Krematorium, Honefoss, Norway on Friday 16 February.
Besides his wife Gunn he is survived by three sons Kirk, Tony and Allan. Additionally there are three grandchildren, who he was very fond of.
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Saturday Obit
